Southern California -- this just in

President of L.A. Coliseum Commission resigns

June 6, 2012 | 3:44
pm

The president of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission announced his resignation Wednesday, saying he decided to step down because his work on a deal to transfer control of the stadium to USC was complete.

David Israel was originally appointed to the commission by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2005 but remained on the panel after Gov. Jerry Brown decided not to replace him. He served a one-year term as president in 2008, and his second term as president began in February 2011.

During Israel's 16 months as president, the commission has been rocked by a corruption scandal that led to the indictments of three former Coliseum managers, a stadium contractor and two prominent concert promoters.

Israel, a former sports writer who later worked as a television writer and producer, said in his resignation letter to Brown that he had "long desired to step down" but stayed on the commission to see the USC agreement approved.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, who becomes commission president, read the letter today at the panel's monthly meeting, which Israel did not attend. The letter is dated May 17.

The nine-member commission is made up of representatives of the city of Los Angeles, county and state.